Tailgating in Florida, and everywhere else, is not only annoying and distracting to the driver being followed too closely, it is dangerous. Tailgating is a leading cause of serious accidents. If you are one of the many people injured in a tailgating accident it is important to seek the aid of a skilled accident attorney who will recover the compensation you deserve.
Injured in a Florida tailgating accident? Call Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA today at 727-451-6900 for a free, confidential consultation
Tailgating is defined as following another vehicle at an unsafe distance. Most driving manuals recommend keeping a distance of one car length for every ten miles per hour of speed. That will allow a safe stopping distance should the car in front suddenly brake. Anyone who has driven on Florida highways knows that in a heavy and fast flow of traffic, a six car length space will quickly be filled by an aggressive driver from another lane. That means the six length space is quickly reduced to two spaces of less than half. How close is too close?
To be ticketed for tailgating in Florida in two factors must be true.
- There was another vehicle in the same lane as you
- You were following the vehicle more closely than reasonable, given the road conditions.
In the case of a police officer issuing a summons for tailgating there is much subjectivity involved. However in the case of a rear end collision it is generally assumed that the car that was following was at fault but it is rebuttable in some cases.
Tailgating is classified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a form of aggressive driving. It is an extremely risky and dangerous practice and the cause of some of the most devastating highway crashes. When it involves a larger vehicle such as a semi-truck the results are always tragic. Some of the reasons drivers tailgate are road rage, aggressive driving, careless driving, distracted driving, and speeding.
Tailgating accidents are considered preventable had the driver been more careful. The driver of the tailgating vehicle therefore may be considered negligent for failure to exercise reasonable care while driving. How a sensible driver would act under a similar situation defines reasonable care. A person using common sense would not allow a vehicle to follow at an unsafe distance.
In order for a negligence case to be successful, four elements must be established:
- A duty of care was owed to the plaintiff by the defendant, not to follow his or her vehicle too closely
- This duty of care was breached by the defendant
- The breach of this duty of care caused the accident
- There were damages incurred by the plaintiff.
In a Florida tailgating accident injury claim, you may be entitled to compensation for such costs and losses as medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, lost income and benefits over your lifetime, pain and suffering, property damage and more. The amount of compensation can vary greatly according to the extent of your injuries. If you lost someone you love in a tailgating accident you may be entitled to wrongful death damages.
If you or someone you care about was injured in a tailgating accident, the Florida tailgating accident attorneys at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA are here to help. Our law firm has the resources to reconstruct your accident to determine exactly what happened. Our attorneys have helped countless victims of tailgating drivers to recover the compensation they deserve. Call Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA today to speak with a qualified accident attorney. To learn more about your options and rights in your case call 727-451-6900.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
727-451-6900
